West Sussex Partners in Care is the leading Care Association for providers in West Sussex
WSPiC was initially formed as the West Sussex Forum, in the early 2000’s. In 2014 we re-branded as West Sussex Partners in Care, a not for profit organisation that will work in partnership with our key stakeholders including Care Providers, West Sussex County Council and CCGs.
We represent all independent providers of care in West Sussex, knowing that the pressures faced by the care industry can be alleviated through co-working to achieve collective aims.
As providers themselves, the Board of Directors understand that we face common challenges such as regulatory requirements in allocation of resources, investment to improve services, training and recruitment. At the same time we face common cost pressures; HR issues and other similar themes faced by business people and entrepreneurs nationwide.
Our Strategic Priorities
One of our strategic priorities is to improve care provider Workforce Development across the county. We champion those that take the time to improve themselves at our annual Care Accolades Awards, and work hand in hand with West Sussex County Council’s (WSCC) learning and development team to shape the training offer that they provide to external care providers of all shapes and sizes.
Another is to continually Advise, Inform and Influence to achieve our overall aim: excellence in care for all. We aim to make partnership with members and other stake-holders work based on transparency, knowledge, understanding and mutual respect and support to the benefit of all. We are members of the Care Association Alliance, enabling us to raise topics at a national level on behalf of our members. The Board attend many meetings representing providers in West Sussex including the Safeguarding Adults Board, The CQC Trade Association meetings and more.
We aim to share information pertinent to the sector and have evolved to do this in many ways; from our weekly email newsletter to social media and our website, which we are developing to be a resource rich source of up to date information. Recently we have been able to support providers by providing template policies and procedures relating to the Data Security and Protection Toolkit, and a guide to using agencies in social care produced by industry experts.
See our full Strategic Plan 2024-2027
Membership
Although all West Sussex care providers are part of WSPiC, we encourage organisations to sign up as a WSPiC Premium Member – as a collective, we are better placed to communicate with our commissioners; to influence the policy makers and the better informed we are the more influential we are likely to be.
Our aim is in supporting those in the business of care. In bringing together a wide range of independent providers of care, we have an opportunity to share experiences, knowledge and skills which come from leading such companies.
Projects
Often working with our colleagues in East Sussex, we run and support projects that make a real difference to the sector. Currently, we are supporting managers with our wellbeing project, SCARRF, offering 1-1 and group support to Registered Managers of social care services. Read more here. We are also supporting the Sussex Digital In Reach Team, supporting providers with their digitalisation and offering training and support opportunities to services when they need it. You can read more about the project here.
Meet the board
Rosemary Pavoni | Chair
Representing: Residential care
Rosemary has 50 years’ experience in working in Health and Social Care services, and is thoroughly dedicated to providing excellent standards of person centred care.
Rosemary is:
- Chair of West Sussex Partners in Care & Training Board
- Chair of Sussex Skills for Care Network
- a Member of the West Sussex Safeguarding Adults Board
- Representing End of Life Care in West Sussex
- Representing Dementia Care in West Sussex
- a Member of the Care Alliance Consortium
- a Dementia Friends Champion
- a Dignity Champion
Dr Tom Jameson | Deputy Chair
Representing: Domiciliary and Residential care
Tom has always worked in the health and social care profession – first as a hospital doctor and, since 2003, as the proprietor of Sussex Grange Care Home.
After 3 years of running the care home he set up a Home Care agency locally to the care home, enabling people who need care to move seamlessly between the different services as and when they need to.
Tom initially began working with Rosemary on the West Sussex Forum Training Board and then became a Director of WSPiC when it was formed in 2014. Since that time he has worked with fellow Directors to enhance the services offered by WSPiC with particular emphasis on the annual Care Awards Ceremony and the twice yearly symposiums.
Asim Chaudhary | Financial Director
Representing: Nursing and Residential care
Asim has been in the care sector since 2008 when he purchased Amberley Lodge nursing home and Willett Lodge nursing home in Worthing.
In 2019 Asim purchased his third Nursing home, Melrose Care. He has achieved a very good reputation for all his homes. Prior to this Asim worked in his family business, which he helped establish and grow in the UK and abroad.
Asim qualified as a Chartered Certified Accountant in 1999. His key area of interest was to help small and medium sized companies reduce their costs without compromising on quality, resulting in improved profitability and performance.
Being in the care sector Asim appreciates the pressures faced on a daily basis. Asim strongly believes quality personalised care is linked to the long term performance and success of any care business.
Jacey Lund | Director
Representing: Learning disabilities and Supported Living
I have been working in the social care sector since 2013, starting my career in an educational residential setting and discovering my passion for supporting adults with learning disabilities.
I began my position as a Registered Manager for a small residential service at Peak 15 in 2018 and have been working towards changing the narrative of social care and people with learning disabilities. I have strong beliefs that people should be mentored and supported to live the most fulfilling and meaningful lives possible, with as little restrictions as possible.
Sophie Hare | Director
Representing: Residential and Domiciliary care
Sophie has worked in the care industry for 22 years supporting a varied group of care users; she firmly believes in delivering the care you would expect for yourself, or a loved one. As a Registered Manager she achieved an ‘Outstanding’ CQC rating in 2015 and developed her career in supporting other services to ‘drive up quality’ on the road to outstanding.
During her career she has achieved a variety of awards including ‘Best outcomes for improving health’, ‘Team of the year’, ‘Manager of the year’, ‘Inclusive communication’ and ‘exceptional health outcomes’; In addition to this, she was finalist for the 17th National ‘Care Manager of the Year 2015’ and also recognised in the Guardian and Industry news for her work to drive and implement quality.
Sophie’s passion comes from supporting, encouraging and developing others and in particular she enjoyed her role working as a care consultant.
Sophie started working with Sussex Grange in 2018, She was appointed a role of Operations Director in January 2019 and conducts both strategic and operational planning to ensure service delivery and compliance.
Kevin Humphrys | Director
Representing: Residential and nursing care
Kevin is the Chief Executive of Oakland Care Group of homes in Littlehampton and Bognor Regis, has over 12 years’ experience of senior leadership in health and social care and is a Fellow of the Institute of Leadership and Management.
Kevin has worked in both the not-for-profit and commercial sectors throughout the UK to support the delivery of respite and domiciliary care in the community and in care and nursing homes for the elderly, including those with dementia. Kevin has also enabled the delivery of supported living services for those with mental health problems & learning disabilities and of rehabilitation services for those with acquired brain injuries.
Originally from the Valleys of South Wales, Kevin left Wales to join the Royal Air Force, but due to his experience of chaplaincy there, he went on to study Theology and Ministry at University and Theological College and was ordained a priest in the Church of England in 2000. He remains an active member of the clergy working as an Associate Vicar in Brighton.
Kevin joined the Board in 2022 and is keen to use his knowledge of the difficulties within the social care sector and some of the ideas he has learned can be positive outcomes to these, along with his enthusiasm for technological solutions, to be a beneficial presence on the Board.
Helen Hancorn | Director
Representing: Domiciliary care
I started my career in as an auxiliary nurse and then moved into an administrative role for the NHS.
From 1990- 2006 I worked for the pharmaceutical industry where my first role was medical sales representative. Through hard work and career progression I became Regional Sales Manager with a team of 10 area business managers reporting to me covering South UK & Northern Ireland.
In September 2006 I moved into the healthcare sector working for Advantage Healthcare as operations Manager for The Strand Nurses Bureau which was based in Central London. This involved overseeing the day-to-day operation of the business which provided nurses and healthcare assistants to both NHS and Private Clients covering 7000 hours a week. This role gave me the idea to set up my own company Kardinal Healthcare which I did in 2007. We are a home care agency providing care for all ages from children with disabilities through to the elderly in Worthing and the surrounding areas.
On a personal note I have 4 children and 5 grandchildren so when I’m not busy working I love spending time with them.
Kristen Deely | Director
Representing: Learning disabilities and complex health needs
I began working in health and social care at 18 as a student nurse, specialising in paediatrics. I then took a change in career and began working with adults with learning and physical disabilities. I started working for Progress Housing in 2009 as a support worker.
I began working in health and social care at 18 as a student nurse, specialising in paediatrics. I then took a change in career and began working with adults with learning and physical disabilities. I started working for Progress Housing in 2009 as a support worker.
I became Deputy Manager in 2013 and progressed to Manager in 2014.
In 2016 I became the Registered Manager for a larger service where I remained very happily until my maternity leave. Subsequently, I took a new and exciting post of Deputy Area Manager in 2019 and in due to the continued need for more services for the people we support and continued expansion, progressed to Operations Manager in 2021.
I have always been incredibly passionate about enabling the individuals we support to experience as many opportunities as possible that will enrich and fulfil their lives.
I maintain a keen interest in supporting individuals with complex health and finding new and innovative ways to motivate and drive staff to deliver high quality care holistically, with the individual at the centre of all we do.
I believe that sharing our skills and expertise within our sector provides opportunities for learning and development, which only further improves the service we can deliver to those we care for and am thrilled to be joining the board.
Denise Smith | Development Manager
Denise has worked in the health and social care sector for 20 years, working predominantly with adults over the age of 65. Denise owned a CQC Outstanding rated Domiciliary Care company. As a care provider, Denise was an active member of WSPiC supporting projects and attending networking events.
Denise recently worked for WSPiC as a hospital based Trusted Assessor, supporting care homes with assessments to enable safe and timely patient discharges from hospitals.
Denise has now taken on the full time role as Development Manager. Her new role will enable her to continue her passion in supporting and engaging with the people working in the sector to better understand needs, develop true representation from the market across all domains and to facilitate peer support between providers. She will be working closely with West Sussex County Council to encourage managers and providers to share challenges, identify potential solutions and really make a difference in our social care sector.